Index tab



April 19, i927.

J. H. RAND INDEX' TAB Filed March `2, 192s 2 llllllllllllllll nu Patelted Apr. i9', '1927.

JAMES H. RAND, or NORTH roivAwANnA, New YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE As- SIGNMENTS, T RAND KAP/DEX BUREAU, `INC., OF TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A

CORPQRATON DELAWARE.

r l lINDEX TAB.'

. n y v Application led March 2, 1923. Serial No. 622,411. v

This invention relates to index devices and pertains more particularly to the construction ot' 'tabs of the kind commonly employed in connection with index guide cards, l'oldcrs, etc., -for holding index'slips, label and the like. l In the accompanying drawings a preferred enilmdiinent of the invenytion is illustrated by way ot' example and insuch drawings;

`Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view ot' the upper port-ion of a guide card or folder having a tab of the improved construction secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig.' 1; l l Y Figure Bis a similar vertical cross-section but. illustrating a modiication; andl Figure 4 is also a vertical cross-section illustrating a further modiiication.

One forni of tab which is commonand in extensive use consists of a strip of thin transparent sheet Celluloid bent to torni an open-ended label-holding pocket of substantially triangular cross section and an attachpocket, it tends r ing .element whereby the tab may be secured tiallyparallel to the memberv 7, but spaced to a guide card, folder, or other support.

That portion of the tab which projects beyond the edge of the card and which forms the label receiving pocket usually has one .of its side walls inclined to the plane ,of the card. yThe label or index slip is placed within the pocket behind the inclined side of the tab through which itis vis'ible and by which it is protected from dirt and injury. It the label or index, slip be of relatively stiff material and ot `proper width, it remains indeinitely in the desired position immediately behind the inclined wall of the pocket, as the convergence ot the opposite sides-of the pocket/prevents it from slipping out of place. I If, however, the index slip be soft and without substantial inherent stiliness or .if it be substantially narrower than the width of the inclined wall of the to drop away from the lat- 'ter so as to "ibe visible with difficulty if at all. In accordance with the present invention the tab is provided with a retaining element ordetent so disposed as to prevent slipping or displacement of the label, even though the latter be Asoft and flimsy or of less than normal width.

In the following,r description the term card is employed as 'zt-convenient generic term to designate any of the usual forms of support such as separator cards, folders, etc., f

to which index tabs are commonly applied, In Figs. 1 and t2 the numeral 1 indicates a card, to which the tab?l forming the subjectnratter of the present invention is secured. This tab 1s preterably made from a strip of transparent sheet celluloid bent at the points 3, el and 5 to forni an open ended pocket of substantially triangular cross section for the reception of the removable index slip or label 14:. This pocket 6 is defined by the side walls 7, 9, and 10 respectively, the side 7 being extended as indicated at 8 to form an attaching. member by which the tab is secured to the card 1. The side 10 of the pocket is preferably inclined at ani angle to the plane of the attaching member 8 and the Alabel 14 is positioned immediately beneath this inclined side wall, the inclination of which is such as Vto facilitate reading of the inscription upon the label when the tab is mounted upon the guide card. One end portion of the strip of celluloid is bent to provide the member 11 which extends substanslightly therefrom vto admit the vupper portion of the card between them. As the material of the tab is somewhat resilient the pinching of the upper edge ofthe card between the members 7 and 11 may be suflicient to retain the tab in operative position, although itis preferred to employ some adhesive. material vfor permanently securin the part 8. to the face of the card. The en portion of the strip is bent at the point 12 to provide the resilient detent 13 which lies substantially parallel to the side wall 10 of the pocket, being spaced slightly from the latter to admit the index slip 14 between them. As the detent engages the slip intervmediate its longitudinal margins, the slip is held closely in nengagement with the wall,

tially narrower than the-width of the wall though it be of rela- 10. If desired the space between the inem# bers 10 and13 may normally be substantially less than the .thickness of the index slip to be'employed, and in inserting the'latter the member 13 would first be sprung away from the wall 10 and after the slip had -been positioned, the return of the member 13 to normal position would serve to hold the slip firmly in position.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the card or support is indicated at la. The tab is shown as comprising,r a strip bent at the points 3, 4 and 5 to lorm an open ended pocket ot' substantially triangular cross-section havin;Y the side wallsl 7 9 and 10", the latter being' that through which the index slip is visible. The wall T is continued to provide the attaching` element 8 which is' cemented to the card or otherwise secured thereto. rlhe cud portion ot the strip is continued beyond the bend 5 to t'orm the detent element 11a whose extrennty is spaced slightly trom the central portion of the wall 10 so as to hold the index slip 14 firmly against the inner surface ol such wall.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. t the card is indicated at 1" and the tab is shown as comprising a strip of material bent at the points 3b, 4h, 15 and 17 to provide an open ended pocket o substantially triangular form having the side walls T", 11)" and 16. The side Wall 7" is extended to provide the attaching element S" while the opposite end portion ot the strip is continued beyond the bend 17 to torni the additional attachingelement 18. the upper portion ot the card 1" being received between the members 8" and 18. The rcsilienev ot these members may be depended upon for holding the index tab in position although it is preferred to employ cement. or other adhesive as additional securing means. In'this form of the device the bending ot the material at the points 4b and 15 provides the short wall element 9 which lies substantiallv parallel to the wall 1,1 of the pocket and provides a recess within which the lower edge of the index slip 14" is received. This recess serves to retain the slip in proper position against the inner snrface of the wall 10b.

lVllile transparent celluloid is desirable as material for formingthe/tab in accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated that other sheet material, preferably resilient and preferably transparent may be employed for the purpose, although it the material is not transparent it may be furnished with an aperture or Window in that side of the pocket through which thelabel is to be viei'ved'and such aperture may, it desired, be provided with a separate protective sheet ot Celluloid, glass or the like for preventing defacement of the label which is ,side walls extendingl at an angle held in proper operative positionby the retaining elements or their equivalents, here described.

I claim:

V1.v An index tab toi-med from a strip of transparent sheet material bent to provide to each other formingr a pocket, an element integral with one ol said walls and movable relatively thereto t'or tnnragring` the rear side of an index slip intermediate its longitudinal margins to hold it in substantial contact with an inner surface of an imperfporate side wall ot' the pocket.

i2. An index tab made of transparent sheet material bent to form an open ended pocket haring' an inclined integral front wall construt-led and arranged to exhibit an index slip positioned within the pocket, and comprisingI a resilient. detent integral with the material ot' the pocket vt'or holding,r the index slip in contact with the inner surface of said inclined trout wall.

3. `An index tab comprising a strip of transparent sheet material bent to form a pocket tor the reception of an index slip, one extremity ot said strip being,r disposed within the pocket and constituting a retaininn element for holdilngY the index slip in contact with an inner wall ot' the' pocket.

i. An index tab comprising a strip of transparent celluloid bent to provide a pocket Yt'or the reception of an index slip. one end port-ion ot said stripl being disposed within the pocket and in a plane substantially parallel to one side Wall of the pocket to permit the introduction of an index slip between them.

5. An index tab made of a strip of transparent Celluloid bent to provide an attaching member and an open ended pocket ot sub stantially triangular cross section having one wall thereof inclined to the plane ot the" attachimgr member` one end portion of the strip being' bent to lie in a plane substantially parallel to the attachingr portion, providing-a space therebetween for the reception ot a supportingr card, and being further bent to form a member extending substantially parallel to the inclined Wall of the pocket for resiliently pressing,r an index slip against ythe latter.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass., this 23rd day of February 1923.

JAMES H. RAND.l

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